Feed supply system for coal bins



9 June 6, 1933 D, VAN LAW 1,912,742

FEED SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR COAL BINS Filed Jui 5, 1952 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IvIESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO A CORPORATION OF COLORADO SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR COAL BINSApplication filed. July 5,

This invention relates to a supply system for coal bins and moreparticularly to means for supplying finely divided coal to bins used inautomatic fueling: apparatus for furnace and the'like." It is an objectof the invention to provide a simple system for supplying coal to a binof the above described character in pre-measured quantities. A furtherobjectis to supply said quantities through the intermediary ofportablecontaine1--units',"a'nd another object is to provide 'inconnection with said units, closures which are removed from the mouthsof the units'after'th'e latter have been applied to the bin. Stillotherobjects reside in details of construction and novel combinationsand arrangements ,of parts as will fully appear in the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing in the several views of which like parts aresimilarly designated, Figure 1 represents a partially broken side-viewof an automatic fueling apparatus to which the present invention isapplied, Figure 2 is a plan-view of the bin of the apparatus, Figure 3is a section on the line 3-3, Figure l, drawn to an enlarged scale,Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper-portion of one ofthe containerunits hereinabove referred to, and Figure 5 is a sectiontaken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring further to the drawing, the fueling apparatus shown in Figure1 comprises a bin 5 having in its bottom portion, an endless feed chain6 by means of which the contents of the bin are gradually moved to thefire box of a furnace or the like through the medium of a direct-firingfueling unit.

The feed-element of the fueling-apparatus is not a part of the presentinvention but has been shown and described in a separate application forpatent, Serial No. 620,872.

The bin is closed at its top by a cover-plate 8 provided with aplurality of supply-holes 8a, and the coal is supplied to the binthrough these holes by means of containers 9. Each container consists ofa cylindrical can having a tapering neck 10 leading to a shortcylindrical mouth 12.

1932. Serial No. 620,873.

Handles l3 exteriorly of the neck facilitate-manipulation of thecontainer.

The cylindrical mouth of the container has two or more exterior slantingribs 14 cooperating with corresponding interiorly projecting beads 15 ofa flanged cap 16 Which closes the mouth.

The ribs and the beads provide a multilated screw-thread which holds thecap in place and permits of the application or removal of the cap bypartial rotation of the same. The cap has a laterally projecting,apertured lip 17 and each feed-hole of the cover plate of the bin has alateral notch 18 for the passage of the lip 17 when the mouth of thecan, with the cap in place, is inserted through the hole.

Inside the bin in alinement with the notches of the several holes, arevertical pins 19 which enter the apertures 17a of the lips when themouths of the cans are inserted through the holes as statedhereinbefore.

'Rotatably supported on the cover plate, within the holes are seats madeof rubher or other resilent material each serving as a rest for thetapering neck of the can and providing a dust-proof closure when the canplaced upon the bin in an inverted position with its mouth inserted inone of the holes.

Having thus described the mechanical construction of my invention, itsoperation will be readily understood. The coal is supplied to thecustomer in measured quantities by means of the container-units. Thecoal-merchant brings the filled containers to the furnace of thecustomer, removes empty units and replaces them by the filled ones.

In doing this, he places the container with the mouth-closin g cap inplace, in an inverted positionupon the seat around the hole. In thisposition of the container, its mouth is inserted into the bin throughthe hole and the lip of the can is placed around the upright pin.Rotation of the cap is thus prevented, and if subsequently a partialrotation is given to the container outside the bin, the spiral ribs ofits mouth are disengaged from the respective beads of the flange of thecap, thereby permitting the cap to fall away from the mouth of the canby its own weight and that of the contents of the can. Owing to theengagement of the lip of the cap with the upright pin inside the bin,the cap after falling away from the mouth of the can, will remainsuspended from the pin as shown in Figure 3, so that after the can isremoved from the hole, the cap may likewise be replooved by insertingthe hand through the ole.

It is to be understood that variations in details of construction may beresorted to within the scope of the invention as defined in the hereuntoappended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fuel-supply system of the character described, a cover-platehaving a supply-hole, a portable container having a mouth insertablethrough the supply-hole, a removable cap for the mouth of the container,and means to effect removal of the cap, by rotary movement of thecontainer, outside the hole.

2. In a fuel-supply system, a cover-plate having a supply-hole, aportable container having a mouth insertable through the hole, ascrew-cap on the mouth, and means for holding the screw-cap againstrotation with the container in a position in which the mouth is insertedthrough the hole, whereby the cap may be removed by rotary movement ofthe container.

3. In a fuel-supply system, a cover-plate having a supply-hole, aportable container having a mouth insertable through the hole, ascrew-cap on the mouth, having an apertured lip, and a fixed pindisposed to engage the lip by insertion of the mouth through the hole,whereby to hold the cap against rotation.

4. In a fuel-supply system, a cover-plate having a supply-hole, aportable container having a mouth insertable through the hole, ascrew-cap on the mouth, having an apertured lip, and a fixed pindisposed to engage the lip by insertion of the mouth through the hole,whereby to hold the cap against rotation, the pin being adapted forsuspension of the cap after separation from the mouth of the container.

5. In a fuel-supply system of the character described, a cover platehaving a supply-hole, a portable container having a mouth insertablethrough the supply hole, a removable cap for the mouth of the container,a seat for the container permitting of a determinate movement of thecontainer in place, and means to effect removal of the cap by holding itfrom following the movement of the container relative to the seat and toretain the closure for future use after its removal.

6. In a fuel-supply system of the character described, a cover-platehaving a supply-hole, a portable container having a mouth insertablethrough the hole, a closure for the mouth,

a seat for the container permitting of a determinate movement of thecontainer in place, and means for opening said mouth, with the containerin a position in which the mouth is in communication with the hole, byholding the closure from following the movement of the containerrelative to the seat.

7 In a fuel-supply system of the character described, a bin having asupply-hole and a seat adjacent thereto, a portable container 1 movablysupported on the seat and having a normally covered mouth adapted to beplaced in communication with the bin by means of its supply-hole, andmeans for uncovering the mouth of the container by a determinatemovement of the container in place relative to the seat.

8. In a fuel-supply system of the character described, a bin having asupply-hole, a loose portable container separate from the bin, having amouth for the discharge of its contents in an inverted position, the binhaving a seat for the loose, support of the container in a position inwhich. its mouth is in communication with the binby means of thesupply-hole, a closure for the mouth of the container, and means toefiect a movement of the closure by movement of the container in place,whereby to uncover the mouth of the container.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

DURBIN VAN LAW.

